Chapter 31: Squabble

Aslan rested his hand on the baluster, sipping slowly from the cup of tea he was holding, his shoulders tense as he gazed out into the dark starless night.

Running a hand through his hair, he let out an exasperated sigh before placing the cup back unto the saucer.

A lot was going through his mind and as the days passed by, he found it hard to concentrate. He was restless as he tapped his foot repeatedly on the floor, his mind masked with images he tried hard to forget.

Life was becoming beautiful for him; he smiled more and engaged in more conversations with his family. Things were beginning to fall in place for him and all that was thanks to a beautiful someone Azza wajjal blessed him with, in the name of Najmah Haroun.

She was an unexpected addition to his life who turned out to be one of the most significant decisions his Baba took for him and for that, he would be eternally grateful.

The thought of her leaving him brought a tremendous amount of fear in his heart; he couldn't bear to lose her, not after all the great memories they shared together. He couldn't let her go, not now, not ever but it was inevitable; the truth would be out and she would leave.

"Hey," Najmah spoke, wrapping her arms around his torso.

"Hi," he plastered a fake smile on his face before swivelling to face her.

"You wanna tell me what's going on with you?" she queried with a furrowed brow.

"What are you talking about?" he feigned ignorance.

"Ever since we got back from that apartment you've been weird and...aloof, is there something wrong?"

"There is nothing wrong," he shook his head, taking her hand into his. "I just couldn't go back to sleep."

"Aslan," she called out softly, placing her free hand on his jaw. "It's been weeks now, I'm worried about you."

"There is absolutely nothing wrong Najmah," he sighed, kissing the inside of her palm. "I am glad that you are worried about me but..."

"Well I have known you for almost half a year now and I have never seen you like this," she probed, concern lacing her voice. "And before you smile that dimpled smile of yours and tell me everything is okay," she pointed an accusing finger at him, making him chuckle. "I'm pretty sure the whole point of having a wife is so you could tell me all these things that  bother you."

"Look who stepped into the shoes of an ideal wife," he teased, flicking her nose.

"Aslan, come on," she frowned, dropping her hand on his shoulder.

"I...I don't know what to tell you Najmah," he sighed kissing the corner of her lips. "There is nothing wrong."

"But..."

"I get upset sometimes and it shows okay? I am not a robot, I have emotions and I show them."

"Are you calling me a robot?" she gasped, retracting her hand from his, stepping out of their embrace.

"Najmah that's not what I meant," he ran a hand through his hair, cussing inwardly.

"I am unemotional, I have no feelings, so you see me as a robot," her voice broke as she tried not to tear up.

Hearing him say those words hurt her a lot, she knew he hadn't meant her but indirectly, he was still referring to her because between the two of them, she was the unemotional, unfeeling, aloof and detached human robot.

"Najmah...," he called out, but she was already out of the room in seconds. He debated on whether to go after her or stay and wait for her to come back.

The call of the adhan brought him out of his daze and he walked out of the room and descended down to the dining room to take his Suhr. He greeted his parents before settling down on his seat, staring at Najmah's vacant chair.

'I really have messed up this time around,' he thought, filling another cup of tea for himself.

"Aslan," Ferah tapped him. "Where is Najmah? Is she not joining us for Suhr?"

"She..."

"I'm here," Najmah halted him from his speech.

Ferah smiled at her before turning away. Najmah took her seat, not once sparing him a glance. She twirled the spoon in her cup, leaving her plate of pide untouched.

"Najmah dear," Ferah placed her hand on Najmah's worriedly. "You haven't touched your food. The adhan would be called any minute from now."

"I'm sorry," Najmah sighed. "I just don't have any appetite."

"Are you alright?" Lale questioned worriedly glancing back and forth between Aslan and Najmah.

"Yeah," she nodded. "I'm good."

"Have your tea please and maybe a piece of pide," Ferah stated. "It is not good to fast on an empty stomach."

Najmah nodded solemnly, taking a bite of said food. Aslan watched her as she ate, feeling guilty for what he said earlier. He had no intention of hurting her feelings and yet, he ended up doing so.

{••}

"There is something wrong between the two Anne. I can feel it," Lale lamented, sitting besides Ferah.

"Lale dear are you sure the fasting season hasn't gotten into your head?" Afet mocked, observing the set of jewelry on the table.

"I wasn't talking to you," Lale snapped, glaring at Afet. Afet scoffed, returning her gaze back to the jewelry boxes.

"Lale," Ferah sighed. "If there is anything wrong with the two we should let them hash it out okay? Let them solve it on their own."

"But Anne, I am scared that with the way he is, Najmah would grow tired of him and ask for a divorce. I do not want that to happen. He still works at ungodly hours of the night, he barely sleeps at home."

"Well, then good riddance. We will finally have the gold digger out of our lives," Afet snickered, eyeing an emerald piece earring.

"Nobody asked for your opinion," Lale glared at her again. "Shut your mouth if you can not say a good word about her, Najmah is not like that and you know it."

"Keep telling yourself that," Afet mocked, rising from her seat.

"Teyze," she addressed Ferah. "I will take these two boxes with me." Ferah nodded while Afet picked the jewelry boxes she was admiring.

"Lale I know that you are worried, but we need to give the two space okay? Fights occur in relationships, marriage is not a bed of roses."

"I know but..."

"No more buts okay?"

"Fine," Lale huffed.

"Now which jewelry should I gift my daughter in law hmm?" Ferah questioned, contemplating between two gold jewelry set. "You are the fashion expertise."

"Give her both," Lale replied not glancing up, feeling annoyed that their mother was acting so blasè about the situation.

"Excellent idea," Ferah stated, ignorant of Lale's musings as she tucked the gold pieces back into their boxes. "This Eid will be monumental, we have a new addition to the family."

"Mm-hmm," Lale nodded standing up. "It would definitely be if your son does not screw up his marriage."

"Afet is right," Ferah mused. "The fasting has really gotten into your head."

Lale shook her head, taking off the bracelet clasping her wrist. She returned it back into the box then head over to her room mulling over what she talked about with her mother.

{••}

"Najmah," Afet called out sweetly. "You haven't touched your food. Are you sure you're okay?"

Najmah snapped her head towards Afet with a shocked expression. "You talking to me?" she questioned, her brows furrowing.

"Of course silly," Afet grinned. "Is there any Najmah around here besides you?"

"I'm okay," Najmah nodded. "Just tired."

"You seem to be in a jolly mood today Afet. Did you win a lottery?" Aslan questioned.

"Who knows?" she replied, taking a forkful of Ramadan pide. "I might just win that."

Lale stared at her with a weary expression before returning her gaze back to her plate of güllaç. Afet's mood was suspicious to her; she had never spoken to Najmah while they were eating for the five months she had been married to Aslan so why was she acting all concerned about her?

"Najmah, could you pass me the salt please?" Aslan thrust out his hand.

Najmah bit her lip before picking the salt shaker then placed it near his outstretched hand. He sighed, recoiling his hand before picking the shaker. Lale watched the exchange between the duo, her lips thinning into a hard line. There was something indeed going on between them and she was going to find out what, she wouldn't let her brother ruin his marriage, girls like Najmah were hard to come by.

"Najmah, do you not want to be here? You seem to not want to look at us or is it Aslan's face you do not want to see?" Afet teased, earning a glare from Lale.

"Afet what sort of question are you asking?" Ferah's brows snapped together.

"I was just joking Teyze," she grinned. "She seems to be down."

"Why does it concern you?" Lale fired, dropping her spoon. Afet shrugged, a smile dancing on her lips. 'Game on.'

"Excuse me," Najmah pushed back her chair. "I don't feel my appetite anymore." Aslan sighed, pushing back his chair and following Najmah up to their room.

"Najmah," he placed his hand on hers once they were in the confines of their room. "I apologise for what I said earlier okay? You know I didn't mean it like that."

"How would I know what you meant hmm?" she extracted her hand from his. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to change."

She walked to her luggage and picked out her pajamas then head into the bathroom to shower. She emerged a few minutes later to find Aslan sitting on the bed with his head held in his hands. Scoffing, she rounded over to her side of the bed and pulled the covers over her head, said her night du'a then switched off the lights by her side.

Najmah had no idea why she was angry with him or why his words hurt her, it wasn't his fault that she had problems expressing her feelings or that she was apathetic.

A few minutes later, she felt his side of the bed dip and immediately, his arms wrapped around her frame pulling her closer into him.

"I know that you are not asleep," he stated, tracing a pattern on her shoulder blade. "I am truly sorry for hurting you."

"It's okay," she sighed, lacing their fingers together. "You weren't referring to me. It was stupid of me to hold malice against you for something unintentional."

"So you are calling yourself stupid?" he chuckled, his laughter resonating through her body.

"Hey if you call me that I'll punch you," she joked, turning around to face him.

"With what?" he chuckled, raising their joined hands. "With these flimsy bones?"

"These flimsy bones have punched a lot more people than they can count," she defended.

"Is that so?" he cocked his eyebrow.

"Very much so," she deadpanned.

"If you say so," he grinned, pecking her on the cheek. "So we solid?"

"Yeah," she nodded with a content smile. "We solid."

To show him how solid they were, she raised her head a bit and placed a chaste kiss on his lips before letting her head fall on his chest.

And with that, the two fell into a blissful sleep knowing that come what may, they had each other. What they had wouldn't be called love, it was more of an understanding of each other, and at the moment, it was enough for them both.

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